If you are planning a trip to Portland, Oregon, you will want to know what is the best time of year to go, where to stay, what to do and what to eat. Luckily for you, this guide will tell you all about that! We’ve created this brief but thorough guide to making the most of Portland for your convenience. So read on to get inspired and begin planning your astonishing trip.
When to Go
Best time to visit Portland, according to the travel guide by US News, is from June to August. In these summer months, the weather is at all times warm, allowing out-of-town culture to thrive. Plus, summer is when city roses (particularly in the International Rose Test Garden) are in full bloom, which makes for excellent photos.
However, it is worth noting that these months are also when most tourists, like you, will be visiting Portland. So if you’re looking to join, book your accommodation well in advance to avoid sky high prices or fully booked hotels.
Where to stay
When living in Portland, Oregon, we usually recommend that you stay in the central area. This is because you’ll find most of the attractions in the center so as a tourist this is where you want to be. Plus, if you live on the outskirts of a city, you will spend more on transportation to the center each day than if you spend just a little more on your accommodations. There are some good ones hostels in Portland, which offers reasonable prices for a fantastic location and a pleasing experience. Look for hotels with great facilities for your stay, such as as free breakfast, access to a fridge, laundry amenities, free internet, and parking.
What to do
A must-see in Portland, particularly if you have kids in your group, is Washington Park. There are lots of fun activities and scenic spots in Washington Park for you to explore, such as the archery range, Hoyt Arboretum, Japanese Gardens, tennis courts, kids’s playground, international rose testing park, and the Oregon Zoo. In addition, there are numerous memorials and statues to visitt for some culture and history, such as the Oregon Holocaust Memorial, Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Sacajawea Memorial. You’ll also find restrooms and picnic benches, so you can really spend the day visiting the park.
Other great places to visit in Portland include the Portland Saturday Market, which has resumed for its 49th season on Saturdays only, with 150 vendors showcasing the different arts & crafts sold by local Pacific Northwest artisans. Also Portland Art Museumwhich has collections of Asian art, Native American art (especially Pacific Rim), Northwestern art, in addition to European and American collections, which contain some outstanding individual works, mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries.
What to eat
Portland offers a number of cuisines, flavors and native favorites. So whether you want a conventional American party or a global experience, Portland has everything you can imagine. For a lovely Italian treat try Gracie’s Apizza, or for a fantastic steak you need to try Ringside, where they’ve been cooking steaks to perfection and serving them with astonishing onion rings since 1944.
As well as restaurants, Portland is home to some absolutely delicious food carts, like Kabba’s KitcheN. Kabba Saidikhan serves up wonderful Senegalese and Gambian fare from his black-and-silver food cart at Albina. And for a really American taste sensation, you must visit Erica’s Soul Food. In a bright yellow cart parked outside East Coast sandwich shop Lottie & Zula’s, Erica Montogomery serves up the most delicious chicken wings in a number of sauces and flavors.
Have a nice trip!
This has become a fast guide to visiting Portland, Oregon. From when to go and where to stay to what to do and what to eat, we have provided a comprehensive and much of fun list of recommendations to start planning your trip. Remember, if you want to visit Portland in summer and take advantage of the warmth, you need to book your accommodation at the right time. We hope you have fun exploring Washington Park and all it has to offer, and remember to say hello to Kabba and Erica and sample their lovely handmade food. Enjoy Oregon, and have fun!
